Where to Brunch in Paris

Holybelly

There are only two places in the world where I would voluntarily order pancakes and they are 1) Clinton Street Baking Co. in NYC, and 2) Holybelly in Paris. Don’t even bother looking at the menu, because you know you’re getting the “Savory Stack” pancakes, with bacon, fried eggs, Bourbon butter + maple syrup. I’m drooling. Their new location is much bigger than the old one (which they are planning to re-open) but still expect to wait!

Season

One of the trendiest places to brunch (and rightfully so), Season offers variety of fresh dishes including quinoa salad, acai/matcha bowl, avocado burrito, and salmon tartine. Service can be slow, but that’s France for ya. This spot is always packed, but with the upstairs area, your turn will come quicker than you think. There is also a ‘Season Takeaway’ just around the corner, with the same menu, but limited seating.

Paperboy

If you’re looking for an ultimate brunch experience in Le Marais, look no further. Favored by both the locals and tourists, Paperboy offers a set brunch menu, which comes with a brunch dish of your choice, daily fruit juice and a bread basket, for €24. You get what you pay for so the portions are generous, but if you’re not much of a big eater, you can also order from their a la carte menu.

Buvette

As @nyctoparis, Buvette (having locations in New York and Paris) is a quintessential on my brunch list. My usual is their jambon cru (prosciutto and scrambled eggs on toast, topped with cheese and just the perfect amount of olive oil) but you can’t go wrong with anything else on the menu. I get asked which location I prefer, and I must say the one in New York, just because I have more special memories there and the quality of the food has been slightly more consistent.

Café Oberkampf

With only about 10 seats, Café Oberkampf is tiny, but nevertheless has some of the most delicious dishes like avocado toast, grilled cheese, and my favorite: Shakshuka. This is one of the few places that serves good shakshukas in Paris. Although space is limited, the good food and coffee, and attentive service are all worth making the trek out to Oberkampf, a neighborhood just east of Bastille with a ton of new trendy restaurants. Update: The team just opened up Café Mericourt, also serving shakshukas!

Claus

Let’s be honest: The French don’t consider breakfast a meal – even the word breakfast (petit-dejeuner) is translated into ‘little lunch.’ For the French, breakfast is just a cup of coffee and maybe a slice of toast. This is where Claus comes in to fill in that void. Located just off of the Louvre, Claus is proud to serve scrumptious dishes made from the freshest ingredients, along with excellent service and passion for breakfast. I love to come here early mornings to beat the crowd, properly enjoy my perfectly scrambled eggs, and also pick up some sweets from the pastry bar or at the L’Epicerie Claus right across the street.

Nanashi

Nanashi is a canteen-like restaurant serving Japanese-style Bento boxes, reinterpreted by the Parisians. You will get a protein of your choice + grain in one box, and salad on the other box. I tried the chicken nanban, which was tasty, but I found my salad lacking in flavor. I will have to return and give it a few more tries. Nonetheless, Nanashi was every bit as delightful as I had hoped, from the friendly service to the airy décor. Do leave some room for the matcha cake afterwards, which will melt in your mouth!

La Salle-à-Manger at Les Bains

If you love design and architecture just as much as you appreciate culinary cuisine, this is the place for you. Located inside Les Bains, a 19th century building renovated into a chic design hotel, La Salle-à-Manger serves up well decorated (and just as well delicious) dishes including an all-day breakfast menu with eggs, avocado toast, and a variety of salads, and healthy juices. Not to mention the excellent service and elegant ambiance, you will leave this place already thinking about your next visit.

Hotel Grand Amour

This lovely outdoor courtyard in the back of the Hotel Grand Amour allures all the trendy crew from all over the world, especially during fashion weeks in Paris. I will be honest with you: this is more for the ambiance than the food, which leaves a little to be desired, however the perfectly instagrammable atmosphere certainly makes up for it. I haven’t tried everything on the menu but the Croque Madame I ordered was descent.